Paint can bib



Sept. 20, 1966 H. D. ANDREWS, JR

PAINT CAN BIB Filed June 2, 1964 m M RS) mm NR 5% W 0 4 1D. a D W G m Fmy Mm a m m B D g P; IV B .b 1 m FIG. 3

A TTORNE Y3.

3,273,746 lPAllhJT CAN tens Harold ll) Andrews, in, 12d? Westwood Drive,Valdosta, Filed .l'une 2, 1964, Ser. No. 372,ti2d l2. Claims. (ill.ZZtl-dtl) The present invention is a brush holder and wiper attachmentfor paint cans, fashioned to seat on and over the open top of aconventional paint can when in use.

When a paint brush is dipped in a can and wiped across its top edgeexcess paint collects in the closure groove and overflows down theoutside of the can, fouling the same and dropping upon a surface onwhich the can may be seated. This condition is objectionable, wastefulof paint, and when a brush handle is leaned against the inner top edgeof the can it soon becomes smeared with paint above its bristle head.The prior art has sought to eliminate the problem of can and brushhandle fouling by providing various forms of dished or funnel-shapedannular members adapted to seat tightly down over the open top edge of acan to cover and seal off its closure groove against entry of paint. Themembers provide means for supporting a brush in draining position whennot in use and incorporate some form of wiping edge or lip for removingexcess paint from the bristles of a brush drawn thereover when the brushis removed from the can. The inner side walls and bottoms of the membersare made self-draining for return of wiped off paint into the can.

However, in every such brush holder and wiper attachment its top edgeinvariably is used at times as a secondary or finishing wiper edge; sothat after a period of use some paint flows down over the outer face ofthe attachment and onto the exterior of the can giving rise to theobjectionable condition which the attachment is intended to forestall.Moreover, such attachments are somewhat diflicult to apply and removebecause of their relatively tight gripping or frictional engagement withthe can.

Objects of the invention are:

A brush holder and wiper attachment adapted to seat on, over, and in theopen top of a paint can and having provision for self-drainage of paintfrom both the inner and outer surfaces of the attachment back into theinterior of the can without contacting any part of the can top edge.

A brush holder and wiper attachment insertible in the open top or apaint can and having means for seating engagement with the top edge ofthe can in a manner supporting the body of the attachment spaced fromthe can top edge.

A brush holder and wiper attachment for seating on, over, and in theopen top of a paint can, in which spaced apart supports on the exteriorface of the attachment pre vent contact between the outer face of theattachment and the top edge of the can when the attachment is seatedthereon.

Other and incidental objects will be apparent from the followingdescription taken in connection with the ac- 'companying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the attachment above and prior toapplication in the open top of a paint can shown in fragmentarysectional view;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the attachment;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3 3 of FIG. 2;

Patented 2d, lgtifi MG. 4 is a sectional view on line 44 FIG. 2; and

5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but illustrating an optional snap lochbetween the attachment and the closure groove flange of the can.

A preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrative but notrestrictive, is here disclosed as an annular body of molded plastic,thin sheet metal, or other suitable material having an upperfunnel-shaped drain portion 10, the side wall of which slopes inward anddown at an incline of approximately forty-five degrees with respect tothe axis of the body and merges integrally into an intermediate portionconstituting a continuous narrow bottom shelf ill. The shelf is inclinedinward and down as an unbroken continuation of the wall lit) but at alesser angle of inclination, approximately fifteen degrees, andconstitutes a holder for receiving and supporting the bristle end of apaint brush, not shown, when laid diametrically across the drain portionwith its handle resting over a bead rim on the top edge of the wall.

The inner peripheral edge 13 of the shelf ill circumscribes an aperturefor passage of a brush that may be dipped into and withdrawn from apaint can M upon which the attachment is mounted when in use. This edge13 is also the edge of a wiper lip 15 integral with the shelf and with acylindrical baffle 16 which depends axially from the shelf sufficientlyfar to extend well below the closure groove flange T7 of the can andprevent splashing of paint into the flange groove during stirring of thecan contents. Beneath edge 13 the under face of the wiper lip flaresradially outward for a short distance and merges into the inner face ofthe paint baffle, so that the body of the shelf ill and the lip l5 has across section thicker in the plane of the edge than at any other point.This, in effect, provincs annular reinforcement for the body of theattachment in the zone of the wiper lip.

The outside diameter of baffle 16 is smaller than the inside diameter ofthe closure groove flange 17 in order to provide a circumferentialclearance space therebetween. Circumfer ntially spaced supports 18, hereshown as flatsided, thin, radial webs integral with the battle and theinclined wall portion ltd, extend from the outer face of these elementsaxially between the lower end portion of the baflle and the wall ltlmidway between its top edge and its plane of juncture with the shelf 11.These supports have their outer edges upwardly and outwardly divergentfrom bottom to top, providing inclined seating surfaces engageableagainst the top inner edge of the can closure groove flange to centerthe body of the attachment on the can and hold it in an elevatedposition such that the under face of the shelf portion ll is spacedabove and over the inner top edge of the closure groove flange when theattachment is applied to the can. Each of the supports is flanked at itspoint of contact with the underside of the shelf Ill and the wall lti bya pair of diversionary ribs 22 and 24 which converge at a point 26 abovethe uppermost extremity of the support 18. These diversionary ribs areeach substantially triangular in shape and serve to divert paint flowingdown the underside of the wall ill and shelf ill from contact with thesupports l3 thereby precluding the possibility of paint flowing down thesurface of supports 13 and into contact with the flange 17 of the canclosure groove.

When the attachment is in service position, the inclined wall lilextends radially over and well outwardly of the outer top edge of thecan and effectively prevents any dripping of paint into the closuregroove flange. Rotation of the attachment relative to the can isprevented by means of holding ribs 19 on the outer face of the balfle16. These ribs are interspersed between the supports 18circumferentially around the baffle and extend axially from the underface of the brush shelf to the lower end of the baffle, with their outeredges bearing against the inner side wall of the closure groove flange17. The depth of each rib is greater radially than the radial depth ofthe clearance space between the inner wall of the closure groove flangeand the outer face of the cylindrical battle, and each rib is angledalternately at approximately forty-five degrees to its radial. The ribshave suflicient inherent resiliency to flex slightly under a springtension which forces the outer edges of the ribs into binding frictionalengagement against the closure groove flange whereby to hold theattachment against rotation. By alternating the angling of the ribs thetorque of flexing is equalized. The lower outer ends of the ribs arerounded to facilitate insertion past the closure groove flange.

FIG. 5 illustrates an optional arrangement wherein the outer edge of oneor more of the holding ribs 19 has a notch 20 for snap action latchingengagement over a bead 2.1 on the top inner edge of groove flange 17a tosecure the attachment against axial displacement.

In service, the attachment is applied by inserting the baffle 16 in theopen top of a paint can and moving it down until the inclined outeredges of the supports 18 "seat upon the top inner edge of the canclosure groove flange, at which point the lower end of the baflle willbe disposed appreciably below the flange and will shield the flangegroove against fouling by paint splashed during stirring.

Inasmuch as the radial depth of the holding ribs 19 exceeds the radialdepth of the clearance space between the baflie 16 and the inner wall ofthe closure groove flange the lower ends of the holding ribs would seaton the top of the flange wall and prevent insertion of the bafiie wereit not for the rounded off lower outer ends of the ribs. Because of thefact that the ribs are angled relative to their radials the rounded endsof the ribs engage the flange wall as cams which force the ribs to flexunder their inherent spring tension so that they may pass the flangewall in sliding frictional contact therewith and thus become effectiveto hold the attachment against rotation on the can.

As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lower end portions of the holdingribs 19 extend below the lower ends of the support webs 18. The cammingsurfaces constituted by the lower outer ends of the ribs engage theinner top edge of the can flange 17 in advance of the inclined seatingfaces of the webs, so that the holding ribs are forced inwardly and intospring tensioned holding engagement against the can flange before thesupport webs seat thereon. Thus, although the ribs 19 function primarilyas means operative to hold the attachment against shifting movement on acan to which it is applied, they serve also, because of their springtension, as supports independent of the webs 18 and are themselvescapable of holding the drain portion and shelf 11 spaced axially abovethe can flange. This is apparent in FIG. 3, and in the optional snaplock shown in FIG. 5.

The degree of inclination of the outer edge seating faces of the supportWebs 18 determines the extent of the clearance space between the canflange 17 and the exterior surfaces of the drain portion 10, shelf 11,and baflie 16. In the present invention, as best shown in FIG. 2, theupper ends of the webs 18 meet the outer face of the drain portion atpoints of juncture which lie on the periphcry of a circle having adiameter much greater than the inside diameter of the closure grooveflange of a. can with which the attachment is to be used.

The webs 18 function not only as means for spacing the inclined underdrain surfaces of the attachment body above the cylindrical stirringbaffle axially from the can top, but also as braces reinforcing the thinmaterial of the drain portion 10' against bending down under the weightof a brush handle when rested on the rim across its bead 12. This beadreinforces the rim.

Further with reference to FIG. 2, it will be seen that the radiallyouter edges of the holding ribs 19 lie on the periphery of a circle thediameter of which is slightly greater than the inside diameter of theclosure groove flange of a can with which the attachment is to be used.

The wiper lip 15 is the primary means for removing excess paint from abrush when its bristles are drawn across the edge 13. The bead rim 12 atthe top of the drain wall provides a secondary or finishing wiper. As inthe case of every top edge wiper, some paint will inevitably pass overand down its outer face. When the outer face of a wiper is substantiallyflush against the outer face of its associated paint can (as it is inwiper attachments of the prior art), the exterior of the can soonbecomes fouled with paint flowing down from the outer face of the wiper.

Such an objectionable condition cannot arise with the present invention,because paint flowing down the inclined outer face of the wall 10 alsoflows along the inclined under face of the shelf 11 onto the outer faceof the baffle 16 and drains back into the can. The clearance spacebetween the outer face of the attachment body portions and the closuregroove flange of the can enables free drainage of paint back into thecan from the outer face of the attachment Without contacting any part ofthe upper edge portion of the can. Moreover, since each of the supportelements 18 is flanked by the diversionary ribs 22 and 24 converging at26, paint flowing down the outer or under surface of wall 10 and shelf11 is diverted around the support 18 and thus precluded from flowingdown support 18 to contact the flange 17 r of the can closure groove.

It is to be understood that the herein disclosed embodiment of myinvention is illustrative of a practical example and that the inventionis not restricted thereto. It may comprise any structure falling withinthe scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

l. A brush holder and wiper atachment for paint cans comprising: anannular body having an axial passage dimensioned to receive a paintbrush or the like, said body including an upper substantiallyfunnel-shaped drain portion, an intermediate portion providing aninternal circular shelf the upper face of which merges into the innerface of the drain portion at its lower end, the inner edge of the shelfcircumscribing a paint brush passage aperture, a cylindrical baflleportion depending from the bottom of said shelf and concentric with thebrush aperture, supports extending axially between and connecting theouter faces of the drain portion and the bafile, said supports beingspaced apart circumferentially around said body and extending radiallytherefrom, and the radially outermost faces of the supports beingupwardly and outwardly divergent from the lower end portion of thecylindrical baflle to their points of juncture with said drain portion,portions of said radially outermost faces being spaced sufficiently fromsaid body to permit paint or the like to flow freely between the outsideof the holder and the surrounding mouth edge of a paint can or the like.

2. In the attachment of claim 1, wherein said supports are generallytriangular with said outermost faces constituting the longest sides ofeach support and wherein the points of juncture of the outermost facesof the supports with said drain portion lying on the periphery of acircle having a diameter much greater than the inside diameter of theclosure groove flange of a can with which the attachment is to be used.

3. In the attachment of claim 2, said supports being thin webs integralwith the body.

4. A brush holder and wiper attachment for paint cans comprising: anannular body having an axial passage dimensioned to receive a paintbrush or the like, said body including an upper substantiallyfunnel-shaped drain portion, an intermediate portion providing aninternal circular shelf at the lower end of the drain portion, the inneredge of the shelf cireumscribing a paint brush passage aperture, acylindrical baffle portion depending from the bottom of the shelf andconcentric with said aperture, axially extending ribs on the outer faceof the baffle and spaced apart circumferentially around the body, eachrib being angled relative to its radial and its outer edge beingparallel to the outer face of said cylindrical bafiie.

5. In the attachment of claim 4, said ribs being rounded at their bottomouter end edges to form cam surfaces facilitating insertion in a paintcan or the like.

6. A brush holder and wiper attachment for paint cans comprising: anannular body having an axial passage dimensioned to receive a paintbrush or the like, said body including an upper substantiallyfunnel-shaped drain portion, an intermediate portion providing aninternal circular shelf at the base of the drain portion, the inner edgeof the shelf circumscribing a paint brush passage aperture, acylindrical baffle portion depending from the bottom of the shelf andconcentric with said aperture, supports extending axially between andconnecting the outer faces of the drain portion and the baffle, thesupports being spaced apart circumferentially around the body andextending radially therefrom, the radially outermost faces of thesupports being upwardly and outwardly divergent from the lower endportion of the baflie to their points of juncture with said drainportion, portions of said radially outermost faces being Spacedsufficiently from said body to permit paint or the like to flow freelybetween the outside of the holder and the surrounding mouth edge of apaint can or the like, axially extending ribs on the outer face of thebaffle intermediate said supports circumferentially around the body,each rib being angled relative to its radial and its outer edge beingparallel to the outer face of the cylindrical bafiie.

7. In the attachment of claim 6, said supports being thin inherentlyresilient webs integral with the body, said ribs being rounded at theirbottom outer end edges to form cam surfaces facilitating insertion in apaint can or the like.

8, In combination, an open top paint can having at its top edge aninternal annular closure groove flange, an annular funnel-shaped drainmember mounted on the can and extending above, over, and outward of theflange and having an axial passage dimensioned to receive a paint brushor the like, said drain member having at its base an internal circularshelf the inner edge of which circumscribes a paint brush passageaperture, a cylindrical baffle depending from the under face of theshelf concentric with said aperture, said bafile extending into the canfor a distance below its closure groove flange and spaced radially fromthe flange, supports extending axially between and connecting the outerfaces of the drain mernher and the bame, the supports being spaced apartcircumferentially around the baffle and extending radially therefrom,the radially outermost faces of the supports being upwardly andoutwardly divergent from the lower end portion of the baffle to theirpoint of juncture with the drain member and seating on the inner topedge of said closure groove flange whereby the drain member and shelfare spaced axially above the top of the can, portions of said radiallyoutermost faces being spaced sufficiently from said drain member andbaffle to permit paint or the like to flow freely between the outerfaces of the drain member and baffle and the surrounding mouth edge of apaint can or the like and means on the bathe in engagement with saidclosure groove flange holding the attachment against shifting relativeto the can.

9. In combination, an open top paint can having at its top edge aninternal annular closure groove flange, an annular funnel-shaped drainmember mounted on the can and extending above, over, and outward of theflange and having an axial passage dimensioned to receive a paint brushor the like, said drain member having at its base an internal circularshelf the inner edge of which circumscribes a paint brush passageaperture, a cylindrical baffle depending from the under face of theshelf concentric with said aperture, said baffle extending into the canfor a distance below its closure groove flange and spaced radially fromthe flange, supports extending axially between and connecting the outerfaces of the drain member and the baflie, the supports being spacedapart circumferentially around the baffle and extending radiallytherefrom, the radially outermost faces of the supports being upwardlyand outwardly divergent from the lower end portion of the baffle totheir point of juncture with the drain member and seating on the innertop edge of said closure groove flange whereby the drain member andshelf are spaced axially above the top of the can, portions of saidradially outermost faces being spaced sufficiently from said drainmember and said baffle to permit paint to flow freely between theoutside of said drain member and baflle and the surrounding mouth edgeof a paint can or the like and external ribs on the baffle intermediatesaid supports, each rib being angled relative to its radial and itsouter edge being in frictional engagement with the closure groove flangeof the can.

it). A brush holder and wiper attachment for paint cans comprising: anannular body having an upper substantially funnelshaped drain portion,an intermediate portion providing an internal circular shelf at the baseof the drain portion, the inner edge of the shelf circumscribing a paintbrush passage aperture, said intermediate portion including a bottomportion flaring outwardly from the inner edge of the shelf to providereinforcement to the body, a cylindrical battle portion depending fromsaid bottom portion of the shelf and concentric with said aperture,supports extending axially between and con nccting the outer faces ofthe drain portion and the baffle, the supports being spaced apartcircumferentially around the body and extending radially therefrom, theradially outermost faces of the supports being upwardly and outwardlydivergent from the lower end portion of the baffle to their points ofjuncture with said drain portion, axially extending ribs on the outerface of the baffle intermediate said supports circumferentially aroundthe body, each rib being angled relative to its radial and its outeredge being parallel to the outer face of the cylindrical baffle, saidsupports being thin webs integral with the body, and said ribs beingrounded at their bottom outer end edges and having inherent resilience.

iii. A paint brush holder for paint cans and the like comprising: anannular body having an upper drain portion and a lower baffle portionand an axial passage extending between the ends of the drain and baffleportions, said axial passage being dimensioned to receive a paint brushor the like, a number of supports projecting radially from the body andextending axially from adjacent the lower end portion of said baffleportion to a juncture with said drain portion, said supports beingspaced circumferentially around said body and having radially outermostface portions diverging upwardly and outwardly in the general directionof said drain portion, said radially outermost face portions beingspaced sufliciently from said body to permit paint or the like to flowfreely between the outside of the body and the surrounding mouth edge ofa paint can or the like.

12. A brush holder and wiper attachment for paint cans comprising: asubstantially funnel-shaped body for seating on the open top of a paintcan, said body having an axial passage dimensioned to receive a paintbrush or the like, and can-engageable means on the exterior of said bodyholding the body spaced away from the top and sides of a can on whichthe body may be seated, said canengageable means having sufficientradial dimension to permit paint or the like to flow freely between theoutside of the holder and the surrounding mouth edge of a paintReferences Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Higby et a1.141340 Eisenberg 22090 Wells 22090 Nergaard 141-340 8/1957 Donovan222--570 7/1958 Beyer 220-90 2/1959 Nichols 220-90 12/1962 Bramming21552 4/1964 Boehm et a1. 215--47 FOREIGN PATENTS 10/ 1923 GreatBritain.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

RAPHAEL H. SCHWARTZ, Assistant Examiner.

1. A BRUSH HOLDER AND WIPER ATACHMENT FOR PAINT CANS COMPRISING: ANANNULAR BODY HAVING AN AXIAL PASSAGE DIMENSIONED TO RECEIVE A PAINTBRUSH OR THE LIKE, SAID BODY INCLUDING AN UPPER SUBSTANTIALLYFUNNEL-SHAPED DRAIN PORTION, AN INTERMEDIATE PORTION PROVIDING ANINTERNAL CIRCULAR SHELF THE UPPER FACE OF WHICH MERGES INTO THE INNERFACE OF THE DRAIN PORTION AT ITS LOWER END, THE INNER EDGE OF THE SHELFCIRCUMSCRIBING A PAINT BRUSH PASSAGE APERTURE, A CYLINDRICAL BAFFLEPORTION DEPENDING FROM THE BOTTOM OF SAID SHELF AND CONCENTRIC WITH THEBRUSH APERTURE, SUPPORTS EXTENDING AXIALLY BETWEEN AND CONNECTING THEOUTER FACES OF THE DRAIN PORTION AND THE BAFFLE, SAID SUPPORTS BEINGSPACED APART CIRCUMFERENTIALLY AROUND SAID BODY AND EXTENDING RADIALLYTHEREFROM, AND THE RADIALLY OUTERMOST FACES OF THE SUPPORTS BEINGUPWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY DIVERGENT FROM THE LOWER END PORTION OF THECYLINDRICAL BAFFLE TO THEIR POINTS OF JUNCTURE WITH SAID DRAIN PORTION,PORTIONS OF SAID RADIALLY OUTERMOST FACES BEING SPACED SUFFICIENTLY FROMSAID BODY TO PERMIT PAINT OR THE LIKE TO FLOW FREELY BETWEEN THE OUTSIDEOF THE HOLDER AND THE SURROUNDING MOUTH EDGE OF A PAINT CAN OR THE LIKE.